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bettyjoan

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Everything posted by bettyjoan

  1. bettyjoan
    I have been wanting to try Osteria Morini for a while, so I proposed to the husband that we start our date night at Bluejacket for beers and then move on to dinner at Morini. Overall, dinner was really nice - we sat at the bar, where we could see the action of the restaurant but also the windows out to the water. Cocktails were very tasty - for his second round, Jason had a negroni bianco that involved smoking a cedar plank into the glass, and it was right up his alley. Food-wise, we started with three crostini - whipped mortadella and pistachio, parmesan "gelato" with balsamic, and sheep's milk ricotta with corn and almonds. I can't say I was really excited about whipped meat, but the mortadella was definitely my favorite - the texture was awesome and it was super flavorful (and the pistachio gave it a good crunch). The other toppings were also delicious. The bread served with the crostini was the best example of crostini bread I have ever had. A lot of times, I feel like crostini bread gets too hard and crunchy on the edges and then soggy in the middle - but this bread was soft-yet-crispy and grilled really nicely. And since you put the toppings on yourself, there was no sogginess. We had pasta next - the canneloni was tasty, but the tomato jam made it quite sweet, and I don't think my husband would order it again. The squid ink pasta, on the other hand, we both devoured - the scallops and calamari were delicious and perfectly cooked, and the chili provided just enough heat to the dish. Really yummy. I wanted ice cream for dessert, so we didn't have any more food at Morini (even though I know the desserts are really good, I wanted to get up and walk around and enjoy the water views before heading home) - but I will look forward to going back!
  2. bettyjoan
    When I visit San Francisco, no matter how long I stay, I always make sure I save one night for a giant Mission burrito and some salted caramel ice cream from Bi-Rite. Sometimes it's the simple things.
  3. bettyjoan
    Off menu - on a previous visit, our server brought it to our attention. So very good.
  4. bettyjoan
    Went to The Red Hen for date night last night - it was a delicious meal from start to finish. We started with the salmon crudo and the chicken liver mousse, and both were really tasty. We split an order of cacio e pepe, and I maintain that it is the best version I've ever had. The scallops with bacon, peas, and polenta were so good that I practically licked the plate. The grilled chicken "fra diavolo" wasn't super spicy, but it was tender and full of flavor. The berry trifle was the perfect dessert - not too sweet, very refreshing, a really wonderful ending to the meal. I couldn't believe that we sauntered right up to the bar and found two seats at 6:30 PM - it was the least busy I've ever seen it, but still plenty humming.
  5. bettyjoan
    Rotisserie chicken breasts Caprese salad with tomatoes and basil from the garden I don't know what I did before I had fresh produce right in the backyard...
  6. bettyjoan
    I was there last week and had the soft-shell crab as well - so, so good!
  7. bettyjoan
    My current blender is definitely going to die before then, and I think we're going to let our Costco membership lapse (without a car and in a small house, we just don't get enough use out of it). What are their prices like non-black Friday? In other words, would we get a price break just buying it at Costco now? My biggest concern with the reconditioned models is that a lot of the reviews talk about black flecks getting into the food (from one of the parts or something). Doesn't seem to be an issue with newer ones, but maybe someone here has further info?
  8. bettyjoan
    I've been thinking about finally investing in a Vitamix, but even though I know I'll love it and use it a lot, the price tag is a big pill to swallow. Does anyone have experience with the reconditioned machines? Thanks!
  9. bettyjoan
    Seared ahi tuna steaks with sauteed eggplant (from the garden) and a scallion-ginger-sesame sauce. Three dinners in a row featuring ingredients I grew myself!
  10. bettyjoan
    We decided to try the Chesapeake Room a week or two ago, for a mellow Sunday night dinner. The food was good - my scallops with risotto were perfectly cooked and seasoned, and hubby liked his shrimp and grits - but the service was quite poor and therefore I don't think we'll be rushing back. The bartender was attentive when we first sat down and ordered a drink, but then it was nearly impossible to get his attention again (he was either hanging out in the back or talking to two buddies at the other side of the bar). It took an inordinate amount of time to get our food, and there were no intermediate check-ins or explanations. Finally, as we were eating, the couple of regulars next to us was presented a free plate of the same scallops and risotto I was paying $25+ for. As I explained to Jason, it was probably a goof-up in the kitchen, but he always gets really irked when disparate treatment is so noticeable. There are definitely places on Barracks Row with better service, so I don't see us returning anytime soon...
  11. bettyjoan
    Barbecued chicken (bone-in, skin-on thighs and legs) with a quick but very tasty homemade sauce My favorite Jean-Georges recipe - roasted corn with manchego and lime (with chives and jalapenos from the garden) A perfect summer meal - would have been better with a cold beer, but alas, we are trying to only drink 1-2 days a week.
  12. bettyjoan
    Ditto on the peas - it was a last-minute addition to my plot, and it hasn't done anything. I totally feel your pain on the green tomatoes! I still have plenty that are green, but it was so nice to grab a couple of red ones and at least confirm that they are delicious.
  13. bettyjoan
    Senart's has actually turned into one of our favorite happy hour spots - we can sit outside with our pup and enjoy cheap oysters and (slightly) discounted drafts (and any place that has Bell's Two-Hearted on draft is fine by me), which is not a bad way to end a day! Service has always been really good. Each time we've visited, the $1 oysters have been very tasty - no, they're not always the most unique or rare varieties, but they have been fresh and very well-shucked. This past week, hubby got the burger and wasn't super impressed (said it was just okay), but the fried oyster sandwich is always yummy and I have never gone wrong with their salads.
  14. bettyjoan
    For a while, the only thing I was getting out of the garden was arugula and herbs, but now the true bounty has started. Patio baby eggplants are growing faster than I can eat them (not a complaint), and the jalapenos are coming in like gangbusters as well. We also picked our first ripened early girl tomatoes this weekend, and they were heavenly. My big Bertha green bell peppers produced a few and then seem to have dropped off, but maybe I'll get one more round. Regular/standard eggplant aren't quite in yet, and my summer squash keeps blossoming but hasn't produced any fruit (I'm afraid it's not being pollenated). I have two other kinds of tomatoes (can't remember what kind right now, at least one is a cherry variety) that are starting to mature as well, so it looks like year one of home gardening has been mostly successful. Yum!
  15. bettyjoan
    I am doing a "Summer Slim Down" challenge at my CrossFit box, so I am trying to get a lot of protein without also getting a ton of fat (some is fine, but it's hard not to go over when dealing with animal protein). I found a recipe for protein pancakes - made with cottage cheese, gluten-free rolled oats, eggs, banana, almond milk, and cinnamon - and they really do the trick. We don't even use syrup - with some sliced strawberries on top, they are plenty sweet. It's a nice change of pace from scrambled eggs.
  16. bettyjoan
    Chicken milanese with an arugula and red onion salad The arugula came from my garden - it's wasabi arugula, so it has a really horseradish-y kick to it. The sweetness of the red onions balanced it out a bit; I don't think I'd be able to take the wasabi arugula "straight up." Hubby loves it, though!
  17. bettyjoan
    I'm actually on my first week of Power Supply - after 4-5 months of CrossFit and NO weight loss progress at all, I decided to try some new things. Also, Jason is now traveling Monday through Thursday most weeks, and cooking for one is no fun at all - so the time was definitely right to give it a go. So far, I'm relatively pleased. There was one meal - beef and mushroom bolognese over spaghetti squash - that I just did NOT like at all (not seasoned properly, and the squash did not reheat well), but overall the meals have been tasty and satisfying. I particularly liked a chicken salad with pineapple vinaigrette and today's lunch of scotch eggs with warm brussels sprouts salad/slaw. The standard portions are pretty large - I couldn't finish the last two I ate. I heard from a friend that they tend to repeat meals every 2-3 weeks or so, which would be fine with me as long as I can swap out the ones I know I don't enjoy. I think it's a good way to stay on track on weekdays when I am flying solo. I don't have a car or a nearby pickup location, so the $15 delivery charge was well worth the convenience for me.
  18. bettyjoan
    Jason and I went to Rose's on a whim on Saturday night - the benefit of having been there many times before AND living nearby is that we can stroll over and check things out, and then go somewhere else if we don't want to wait. We got there around 7:30, and we waited about an hour to get two seats at the bar - but it was a comfortable wait, upstairs on the sofa, and with wine/cocktails in hand (far superior to the outdoor line, especially in this weather). Service was great at the bar - they asked about allergies right away, and thankfully there were only a couple of things I had to avoid. We tried all new stuff - hamachi tacos (yum), grilled asparagus with pineapple and fried jalapenos (double yum), soft-shell crab with shaved asparagus salad (probably my favorite dish of the night), and pork blade with miso and sauerkraut (cooked perfectly and full of flavor). Strangely, I didn't even have room to delve into the pastas - but the strawberry one is back on the menu for now. Jason had room for dessert, so he chose the sweet pea cake with mint custard, buttermilk, and pea tendrils. Wow, what a wonderfully strange dish! The peas were so sweet that they made perfect sense in a dessert, but the freshness of the mint and the tang of the buttermilk kept things from getting overwhelming. One of the most unique things I've had at Rose's - and I think that is saying something! Lots of fun and deliciousness.
  19. bettyjoan
    I stopped trying for rooftop reservations after three consecutive weeks of being shut out in 0.0000001 seconds. I swear, there must be people who configure their computers to magically win the clicking race.
  20. bettyjoan
    Thanks to all of the sushi-lovers who volunteered to be my omakase date. On my parents' last night in town, mom suggested we go to Sushi Capitol. We made reservations for 6:30, and when we arrived, the sushi bar was full but the tables were empty except for ours. We all had omakase, and it was absolutely delicious. The first plate had the Elkhorn oyster with ponzu (amazing - maybe my favorite bite of the whole meal), a lightly fried mackerel, and some salmon sashimi with miso. Really excellent. The next round was all nigiri, and the variety was amazing - it looked like a huge amount of food, but we plowed through it in no time because it was so fantastic. There were three kinds of tuna (regular, medium-fatty, and fatty), some yellowtail belly, uni, scallops, eel, I can't even remember what else. It was nice how they ordered things so you'd get the best progression of flavors and not be overwhelmed by particular fish. The "dessert" was a fatty tuna hand roll, which was a treat for my mom especially (she loves hand rolls) - just excellent. I asked our server about the "omakase for one" situation, and he said they could make it happen - he said it was more of an issue for parties of multiple people, because it makes timing much more difficult. The meal was really great - can't wait to go back for more.
  21. bettyjoan
    Personally, I think a trip to Lagunitas is well worth it. It's been a while, but my husband and I went some years back (on our way from SF up to Sonoma), and we had an absolute blast. Not sure what the Chicago facility is like, but I feel that the Petaluma location captures the spirit of Lagunitas perfectly. There are tons of beers available that you can't find anywhere else. Plus, if the weather is nice, there is a great outdoor area to sit, drink, eat, maybe listen to some live music.
  22. bettyjoan
    My folks were in town for the long weekend, and mom requested dinner at Fiola Mare - we dined at Fiola during one of their previous visits, and it was a spectacular experience all around. So, since we are all seafood lovers, it seemed like the obvious choice. Unfortunately, while the food was delicious, the service and the overall experience fell flat. Highlights food-wise were the salmon crudo, the pastas (we had lobster ravioli, bucatini with prawn and sea urchin, and rigatoni with braised rabbit), and the grilled branzino. The spring garden cocktail and the lentil salad side were also really good. All of the fish, as usual, was cooked impeccably. The service issues seemed to start right when we walked in. We had barely sat down before one sommelier asked us if we had questions about the wine list, and then once we had ordered our first round of drinks, a different sommelier came over and asked again if we had any questions about the wine list. It felt a bit smothering. Then, the server must have heard my father incorrectly when he ordered his rigatoni, because the pastas came out and he was presented with the bucatini. We let him know, and he said to enjoy the bucatini and an order of the rigatoni would be out shortly...but then everyone else at the table was done with their pastas, and there was no rigatoni to be found. It really took an inordinately long time for the correct dish to appear - in fact, we were just about to tell the server not to bother. It just seemed very clunky that a mistake like that wouldn't be corrected more quickly. Of course, we did not pay for the incorrect pasta order, and the server gave us a gratis refill on our wine while we were waiting. Very nice gestures, and appreciated, but it was uncomfortable for my dad to eat his pasta when we were all done and our plates were cleared. The pacing overall seemed to fall on the slower side of leisurely. We got a few desserts (some we ordered, and others were just brought), and my favorite was the milk chocolate panna cotta - delicious and rich-tasting, without being super heavy. My cappucino was also lovely. The other service issue that my parents brought up was that Chef and his wife were circulating through the restaurant throughout the night, but they weren't stopping at every table. They noticed that a few tables seemed to get a lot of extra attention, and others got none. I don't think my mom and dad particularly wanted a visit, but they definitely were turned off by the disparate treatment. At the end of the meal, mom and dad said that they'd go back to Fiola over Fiola Mare - I tend to agree.
  23. bettyjoan
    Yes, a thousand times yes, to Copycat. Such a fun place. Hoping to find time to take my parents there this weekend!
  24. bettyjoan
    Say hi next time. Actually, I was there so early that we probably didn't overlap. I came in around 5:30, and they had room for me at the sushi bar but said they needed the spot in an hour. The menu and website say that the omakase requires at least 2 participants, so I ordered some sashimi and one roll. Everything was fresh and delicious. My only quibble is that there appeared to be a regular a few seats down who got to order the omakase solo - I probably should have asked about it to be sure, but when I saw that it was clearly stated, I figured that was that (what can I say, I'm a rule follower). I'll definitely be back - if I could do omakase by myself, I'd probably be back every week!
  25. bettyjoan
    I think the Newseum is one of the best museums we have in town - and we have a lot of good ones. It costs money, but it is well worth it, in my opinion (I am an annual member, I love it so much). For other recommendations, I'd need to know how active you and your visitors are. If you/they are game, horseback riding in Rock Creek Park is pretty rad (just did it for my birthday) - you have to make reservations in advance (and it costs money), but it is a really good time and a very fun memory. Also, paddleboating in the Tidal Basin is a fun way to see the monuments. There's also kayaking/paddleboarding on the Potomac, which would give you some really cool sight lines.
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